Oct 16, 2024 – Police in Tirana have launched a large-scale operation targeting illegal Botox trade, raiding 30 aesthetic clinics across the city. Several clinic administrators were arrested for smuggling the product and failing to report earnings from Botox treatments.
The operation, code-named “Botulinum toxin,” uncovered evidence of unlicensed Botox being administered to patients, with the product believed to have been imported illegally. Authorities said the administrators did not declare their Botox-related income to tax authorities.
The raids, which were conducted following court-approved inspections, have raised concerns about the growing underground market for medical products in Albania. The police have vowed to continue cracking down on unregulated activities in the healthcare sector.
Officials stressed the risks posed by unregulated cosmetic treatments and highlighted the need for stricter enforcement to protect both public health and legitimate businesses.
